Soap press



Nov. 20, 1934. R. A. JONES 1,981,804

SOAP PRESS Filed July 7, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WKMTORNEYS Nov.20, 1934. RAJONES 1,981,804

SOAP PRES S Filed July '7, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 K6 Q j 20 INYENTOR BY M4 WATTORNEYS R. A. JONES Nov. 20, 1934.

SOAP PRESS Filed July 7, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNETS R. A. JONES Nov. 20, 1934.

SOAP PRESS Filed July 7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTQ R N EYS R. A. JONES SOAP PRESS Nov. 20, 1934.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 7, 193:5

INVENITOR ATTORNEYS R. A. JONES Nov. 20, 1934.

SOAP PRESS Filed July '7, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEINTOR BY W I ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jones & Company, Inc., Covington, corporation of Kentucky Ky., a

Application July 7, 1933, Serial n). 679,391

13 Claims.

This invention relates topower driven forming' machinery and is particularly directed to improvements in die pressing machines for use in producing uniform cakes or bars of soap or any other plastic material.

It is-thegeneral object of this invention to provide a soap pressing machine of the above mentioned character which is designed for automatically and successively operating upon'crude blocks of soap for pressing the same into the desired shape with any preferred embossing or impression thereon, in which machine the pressed soap is rapidly and carefully, operated upon.

Further objects more specifically are described as follows: to provide an improved soap loading mechanism for accurate and positive soap delivery to the dies; to provide an improved rotary die carrier of multiple form in which the dies are mounted in an improved manner and cooperate during the loading of the dies for the discharge of the finished bars from the advanced dies; and to provide an improved soap discharge delivery medium whereby the finished soap as ejected from the molding device is carefully received and 5 deposited in the discharge conveyor without damaging or marring the soap in any way.

I Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the improved soap press,'a portion of the mechanism being omitted for purposes of illustration.

Figure 2 is a view of the right hand side of thethe Geneva gear cover shown in section for illus- 5 trating the movement;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6,

Figure 4', further detailing the die assembly and mounting, and showing the rotating means therefor.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line '7-7, Figure 4, illustrating the soap molds in the process of. being loaded at one side and unloaded at the other side.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8, 55 Figure. 4, showing the arrangement and structure of the feeding devices for loading the soap into the dies.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front view of the press showing the soap discharge control and feed mechanism. 1

The soap press in general incorporates a frame supporting a driving transmission, the drive extending to a rotating multiple mold device or carrier and to toggle operated pressing dies cooperating with the rotatable mold device, a soap loading mechanism effective at one side of the mold carrier, a discharge controlling mechanism and a soap discharging carrier in the form of an endless conveyor.

The frame is generally indicated at 10 and incorporates a pair of spaced tubular standards 11, the space between the standards generally containing the operating mechanisms and the standards providing spaced bearings for a multiplicity of cross shafts used in the-press.

' A main power shaft 12 (see Figure 6) is journalled through the standards and has a belt driven pulley '13 and clutch 14 mounted on one extendedend thereof. The clutch 14 is of any commercial type and is controlle'dby means of a lever 15 fulcrumed on a bearing arm 16 fixedto the side of thepress, the operating end of the lever including axially aligned pins 17 engaged in diametri'cally'opposed positions of a groove 18 of a reciprocating clutch controlling element 19.. The manipulating end of the clutch control lever extends across in back of the machine and provides a handle 20 at an easily accessible point for the operator.

The main power shaft drives the rotatable mold device through a Geneva gear mechanism 21 for imparting regular periodic quarter turnsthereto.

It is not believed necessary to describe the Geneva gear in full since this type of mechanism is fullyunderstood in the art.

An element 22 of the Geneva movement is keyed tothemain driving shaft and the other element 23 is keyed to a stud extension of the shaft'24 of the rotatable die carrier or mold device. This shaft includes trunnions or journal bearing portions 25 mounted in removablebearings 26in the respective standards. The main portion shaft is square and of extremely heavy construction. Four flasks 27 are fixed to this square portiorneaoh flask including two die compartments 28; the compartments arranged longitudinally of the axis of the shaft.

The flasks have outwardly extended flanges or feet 29 through which screws 30 are engaged into the body or square position. The lower dies- 31 for pressing the soap are contained in the sight compartments aiforded by these flasks. Each die fits slidably and snugly within the rectangular confines of its chamber and is adapted for movement radially of the axis of rotation of the shaft for the purpose of loading and discharging operations. The inner side edges of the flasks are slotted as at 27, whereby air can flow freely into and out of the flask space in back of the contained. dies 31.

It will be apparent that the dies are related in sets of diametrically opposed connected dies, there being two sets of two dies each disposed at right angles to the other two sets. The diametrically opposed dies of each of two sets are joined by means of a single rod 32, whereas in the instance of the other two sets they are joined by two rods 33, 33, for the purpose of straddling the single rods 32 at the center of the shaft. These rods are sectional, the sections including socket" ing ends 34; secured together by means of pins 35, whereby the rods can be assembled and conveniently withdrawn.

The dies are assembled and removed through the expedient of the following device. Each die has a T-slot 36 formed longitudinally thereof. Each rod and pair of rods have die carrying plates 37 secured at their ends, the plates being of T-- shape in cross section. In the assembly of the dies it is only necessary to slip the dies longitudinally onto the plates by registering the T- slots and T-plate structures and thereafter when the dies are properly located setting the flasks in position. It is accordingly quite expedient to remove the dies for cleaning and replacement purposes.

An eccentric or crank wheel 38 which operates a toggle 39 carrying the upper dies 40, is fixed to the extended end of the drive shaft as aforesaid. A toggle supporting shaft 41 is journalled across and between the extreme upper ends of the standards and carries a lever or arm 42 in its outer end which is connected to the wrist pin 43 of the crank wheel 38 by means of a link Q5 and end fittings 46.

A slide 417 is mounted for vertical reciprocation between the standards. This slide 4'7 is operatively connected to and supported on toggle supporting shaft 41 by means of toggle links 48, as.

The upper of these links 49 is fixed to the cross shaft 41. A collar element 50 is engaged against one side standard, and the upper link 49 is engaged against this collar by means of 'a pair of nuts 51 screwed onto the cross rod, The lower link 48 is pivotally connected between the upper link or arm 49 and to a pivot lug 52 extended upwardly centrally from the slide.

A pair of guideway elements 53, 53, are pro- Vided, the elements of the pair being attached respectively to the inner sides of the respective side standards and providing dovetail grooves cooperating with the dovetail slideways of the slide. In the instance of one guideway, a longitudinal plate 54 is provided overhanging the slideway portion whereby the slide may be removed forwardly. The slide carries two dies disposed side by side thereon and of duplicate construction.

The die mounting, in'each instance, consists of a rod 55 having a head 56 on its lower end to which the die 40 is attached by means of screws 58 extending through slots in. the head into the die. The rod includes a square slidable portion 59 disposed through a square bore longitudinally within the slide, and a screw-threaded portion 60 extending loosely through an upper lug or cross member 61 of the slide, there being a pair of nuts 62, 62, engaged on the upper end of the screw-threaded portion for supporting the die carrying rod. A coil spring 63 is inserted under compression between the underside of the cross member or lug and a pair of nuts 64, 64, toward the lower end of the screw-threaded portion whereby upper movement of the rod and die is against spring action and the dies are yieldably mounted for a yielding pressing action on the soap.

The pairs of molds disposed at the respective sides of the mold carrier successively pause beneath the reciprocating dies, being loaded with cakes of soap at the time. The action of the toggle linkage operating the upper die relative to the lower die imparts a pressing action on the soap when the toggle reaches dead center. It is preferable to move the toggle slightly beyond dead center so as to impart a double pressing action on the soap.

The soap is loaded into the molds at the rear of the machine. riers are provided. Each carrier includes an endless conveyor belt 65 which passes around a driven pulley 66 fixed to a cross shaft 67 journalled between the standards of the frame and around an idler pulley (not shown). The drive is imparted to the pulley driving cross shaft 67 through a train of gears extending from the toggle driving or main drive shaft 12 and consisting of a gear 68 fixed on the main power shaft 12 meshing with a large gear 69 of a compound gear journalled at the outside of the frame, a small gear '70 of this gear engaging a large gear 71 of a second compound gear and the small gear 72 of the second compound gear engaging with a gear 73 keyed to the outer end of the belt driving shaft.

These endless conveyor belts pass along and are supported on angle iron support rails 74, there being two rails slightly spaced apart by means of spacer plates 74 for each belt. The angle iron For this purpose duplicate carrails are supported at their inner ends on a cross rod 75 mounted between brackets '76 fixed to the rear edges of the side standards. The outer ends of the rails are supported by means of 1 justable at their attaching means which consist at each end of the rails of an angle bracket 80 fixed to the main rail, including a clamping screw 81 engaging through a slotted arm of a bracket extended laterally from the guide rail.

Each line of incoming crude soap bars are received in the lower end of a delivery hopper 83, the hoppers in each case including a plate bottom 84 and a main hopper element having vertically disposed passageways 85 turning at right angles toward the mold unit at the upper end as at 86. An angle iron cross piece 8'? defines the upper edge of the intake of the hopper just above the soap bars. The hopper element is fastened down against the plate against a horizontal shoulder 88 formed in the frame.

Elevating plungers 89, one for each row of soap, are vertically disposed and pass through openings 90 in the bottom plate of the hopper.

These plungers are fixed to a slidably mountedlit) support bracket 91, the support bracket being slidably mounted on vertically disposed'rods 92 fixed in the frame. A link 93 connects thesupport element for the plungers to the swinging end of a pivoted arm 94 pivotedon a cross rod 94 disposed across the forward side of the frame. An eccentric element 95 is fixed to a driven cross shaft 96, the cross shaft being driven by means of a gear 9'? fixed thereto and meshing with gear 69. A reciprocating element 98 including a band 99 mounted about the eccentric is connected to an intermediate portion of the pivoted arm by means of a cross rod or stud 100. g

The vertical reciprocating plungers 89, as stated, move through apertures in the base plate of the hopper for elevating the endmost bar of soap at the end of each feed belt, the soap being moved upwardly in the vertical portion of the hopper and then momentarily supported in line with the center of the mold device. Apair of soap loading plungers 101 for moving the bars of soap from the tops of the elevating plungers are provided, these plunger-s operating radially relative to the rotatable mold device and moving through the horizontal passageways 83 of the delivery hopper.

Each plunger consists of a rod 102 and a headed forward end presenting a rectangular plate 103 for engagement with the bar of soap. The

. plate includes a series of grooves 104 in its face sides disposed at right angles-to each other and v includes perforations 105 at the intersections of the grooves for the purpose of breaking any suc-, tion which might occur when the plates engage the bars of soap and load them snugly against the lower die under some pressure.

The hopper is provided with a central partition 106 vertically disposed and in the same vertical plane as the central division 107 of the flasks. Each elevated bar of soap as it is ejected 4 .between pins 111 on extended portions 112 of the arms and fixed pins 113 on the hopper sides. As the soap is pushed between the intermediate wall and the particular arm 108, the arm yields outwardly and its inner edge 114 contacts the end of the soap bar.

released and assumes the positionshown in Figure '7 wherein its forward tip prevents accidental retraction movement of the soap, by engagement therewith, such as might occur due to the soap adhering to the head of the plunger.

The plungers 101 are supported on slides 115 of dovetail construction mounted in dovetail slideway elements 116 fixed to the side standards of the press. A wrist pin 11'] is provided on eachslide and a link 118 connects the wrist pin to the swinging end of an arm 119 loosely mounted onv a cross actuating shaft 120 just above these slideways. c

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the power is delivered to the cross shaft by means of an arm 121 fixed to and extending from the upper cross shaft 41 flexibly connected by means of a link 122 to the outer end to an arm 123, which is fixed to the cross shaft 120 actuating the slides. On

.this cross shaft there are fixed two operating arms 124, each of which is yieldably connected to extended portionsvof the slide actuating arms 119.

As shown in Figure 4, these fixed arms move against nuts 125 screwed on the end of screws .126 projecting loosely throughprojections 127 of the fixed arms and through the extended portion As the soap passes the arm,

of the slide actuating arms-119. Each rod 126 has a headed extended end 123 with springs 129 disposed under'compressionbetween the headed ends and collars 130 loosely mounted on the screw. These collars have tapered ends engaging against the slide actuating arms 119 and extending slightly into the bore for universal movement. Movement 'of the fixed arms under the power delivered to the crossrod is delivered through the screws 126 for swinging'the slide actuating arms 119, but when the cakes of soap have been fully inserted and pressed against the lower dies, additional movement of the power through the fixed arms is idle movement and is effective for drawing the flask is swung a quarter of aturn to position be- 1 neath the previously described dies. and after pressing is swung a quarter turn to the discharge position.

A pressed soap receiving device 131 is mounted in front of the discharge station for gently depositing the pressed soap on the discharge conveyor 132. This receiving device is actuated through the medium of an arm 133 fixed on the cross shaft 120 which actuates the loading plungers, this arm being flexibly connected by a link 134 to the outer end of an arm 135 fixed to an endof a cross shaft 136, the forward cross shaft carrying the receiving device.

The soap receiving device includes a supporting arm 137 fixed to the forward cross shaft 136 (see Figure 9) the'supporting armcarrying a soap receptacle 138 providing two rectangular chambers 139 of slightly greater size than the soap and open at both the front and rear. This soap receptacle is moved in frontof the ejected soap to receive the soap as delivered from the mold device and is swung outwardly carrying the soap bars therewith, the ejection of the next succeeding soap from the mold device forcing the bars from the receptacles and causing them to drop onto the conveyor as shown in Figure 4.

The soap receiving device includes gripping levers in each of its soap receiving openings. Each of these levers indicated at 137 includes a pad which engages the soap longitudinally of the end edge thereof. Each lever is pivotally mounted on the frame or body 138 of the device and operates in a slot in the side of the frame or body of the device.

' The extended end of the lever is connected to a post 137 by means of a coil spring 137. The normal position'of the lever for reception of the soap as maintained by the coil spring is with the pad slightly turned toward the receiving side of the opening. its the soap is slid between the pad and the opposing or intermediate wall of the soap receiving device, the lever is swung to dead center and at this point thesoap is at rest with a maximum grip exerted by the lever.

Thenext succeeding bar of soap pushed into the soap receiving device gently dislodges the preceding finished bar and causes it to drop from the soap receiving device onto the discharge conveyor. I

The conveyor 132 includes abelt 140 (see Figure 9) mounted between pulleys, one of the pulleys, namely 141, the other not being shown, being driven by means of a sprocket 142'and chain 143. The sprocket gear 142is provided on the end of the particular pulley and a sprocket gear 144 is mounted on the outer end of a stub shaft 145 journalle'd on a side standard and-including a bevel gear 146 meshing with the companion bevel gear 147 fixed on the lowermost cross drive shaft 96.

The belt of the discharge conveyor is supported on longitudinally disposed and spaced rails 148. These rails are pivotally supported on a bracket 149 fixed to the end of the frame. A guide plate 150 is provided in front of the discharge receiving portion of the belt and is of angular construction providing one side as an upright forming a side of the discharge passageway and the other as an attaching portion which is adjustably fixed to angle iron brackets 151 fixed on the belt supporting rails by means of screws 152 and wing nuts 153.

Description of operation The rotary die unit as stated before is driven intermittently and pauses at each quarter turn, causing each of its four flasks to pause four times in a given rotation. Although the flasks are of multiple compartment form for rapid production, it will be apparent that the invention is readily applied to single compartment dies and for that reason the description of the operation is confined to the progress of a single bar of soap through the machine.

The crude soap bars are delivered on the conveyor belt 65. The reciprocating elevating plunger 89 is lowered so that the endmost bar of soap will be positioned on top thereof. The elevating movement of the plunger 89 moves the bar of soap through the vertical passageway of the hopper and the plunger pauses for supporting the bar of soap in line with the horizontally reciprocating loading plunger 102. As this plunger 102 is moved forwardly toward the die carrier, the die carrier is caused to pause with one of the flasks in position for receiving the bar of soap.

Since the die 31 is slidable in the flask, it is depressed under the soap and the soap is pushed into the confines of the flask. The arm. 108 is easily spread as the soap is inserted but when the plunger is being retracted assumes the position shown in Figure '7, thereby preventing retraction of the bar of soap in cases where it has a tendency to cling to the plunger head. As soon as the plunger 102 is sufficiently retracted, the rotary carrier is moved through 90 and the loaded flask is positioned below the upper pressing die, the movement of the die being synchronized with the movement of the carrier for descent on the cake of soap and the operation of pressing it into the desired shape. A further 90 of rotation, following the pressing operation, brings the finished bar of soap to the discharge station.

At this point attention is called to the fact that the discharge movement of the bar of soap is effected by an outward movement of the lower or flask contained die. This movement of the lower die is induced by the movement of the diametrically opposite die occurring during the loading operation previously described. The die moves out sufliciently for forcing the finished bar of soap beyond the path of rotaion of the flasks, the bar of soap moving into the opening in the soap receiving device 131 and being held therein by means of the swinging arm 13'? at one end of the opening.

This particular bar of soap is discharged from the soap receiving device upon the next discharge of the rotary carrier, the ensuing cake of soap being pushed against the first cake of soap and moving it laterally outwardly from the receiving device, whereupon it drops onto the discharge conveyor belt, this belt carrying the finished bar of soap from the region of the rotary carrier.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a soap press, a frame, a square shaft having trunnions at its ends mounted at said frame, means for imparting intermittent 90 rotation to said square shaft, flasks secured against the respective faces of the square shaft, die elements slidably mounted in the compartments of said flasks, diametrically disposed rods connecting diametrically opposite die elements, the rods in one instance straddling the rods in the other instance, radially moving plungers for moving soap blocks into the flasks at one side of the rotary shaft, means for pressing the soap at the next stop beyond said plungers, whereby said diametrically opposed die elements through the rod connections are effective for discharging the pressed soap.

2. In a soap press, a frame, a rotatably mounted element, molding flasks mounted at diametrically opposite sides of said element, a die mounted in each flask and slidably movable radially relative to the axis of the rotation of said element, a connecting rod extending diametrically through said rotative element, said rod including die mounting plates on its respective ends, and said dies and plates including cooperative slots and flanges, whereby the dies can be removed laterally from said plates after the flasks have been removed from said rotative element.

3. In a soap press, a frame, a rotatably mounted element, dies mounted at the diametrically opposite sides of said rotatably mounted element and slidably movable radially relative to the axis of the rotation of said element, a connecting rod extending diametrically through said rotative element, said rod including die mounting plates on its respective ends, and said dies and plates including cooperative slots and flanges, whereby the dies can be slid into position on said plates.

4. In a soap press, a frame, a mold carrying element, the flask of said mold detachably mounted on said element, the die thereof slidably mounted within said flask, means for mounting said die including a plate and said plate and die having longitudinally cooperating flanges and grooves, whereby the die can be slid laterally from the plate when the flask is removed from the mold carrying element.

5. In a soap press, a frame, a soap mold mounted on said frame, a soap delivery means, a device for moving a bar of soap from said soap delivery means to a position in alignment with the mold opening, a soap loading plunger adapted to move against said soap when aligned and to force the same into said mold, a lever for moving said plunger, and a yieldable actuating connection to said lever adapted to yield when the plunger has fully moved the soap into the mold opening.

6. In a soap press, a frame, a soap mold rotatably mounted on said frame, a device for moving a bar of soap to a position in alignment with the mold opening, a soap loading plunger, moving radially relative to the axis of mold rotation, adapted to move against said soap and force the same radially into said mold, and means for actuating said plunger.

7. In a soap press, a frame, a soap mold rotatably mounted in said frame, a device for moving a bar of soap to a position in alignment with the mold opening, a soap loading plunger moving radially relative to the axis of rotation of said mold and adapted to move against said soap and force the same into said mold, and actuating means for said plunger including a yieldable connection adapted to yield when the plunger has fully engaged the soap in the mold opening.

8. In a soap press, a mold supported in said frame, a plunger for moving soap into said mold, a lever for actuating said plunger, a shaft, said lever fulcrumed on said shaft, a lever arm fixed to said shaft, power means for swinging said arm, a rod traversing said lever arm and an outer end of said actuating lever, said rod including heads at its respective ends, one engaging against said actuating lever, ia collar loosely mounted on said rod, a compression spring between said collar and said other head of the rod urging the collar against said lever arm, whereby when the movement of the actuating arm is limited by complete imertion of the soap in the mold, the spring will compress and allow overthrow without damage to the soap.

9. In a soap press, a frame, a mold mounted on said frame, a soap loading plunger moving relative to the mold opening, means for disposing a bar of soap in the path of movement of said plunger before said mold opening, and a yieldable finger moving responsive to insertive movement of the soap but presenting positive obstructions to retractive movement of the soap in cases where the soap tends to cling to the plunger.

10. In a soap press, a frame, a mold mounted on said frame, a soap loading plunger moving relative to the mold opening, means for disposing a bar of soap in the path of movement of'said plunger before said mold opening, and said plunger having a soap engaging plate including grooves in its contact surface for preventing adherence of the soap to the plate.

11. In a soap press, a frame, a flask supported in said frame, a die slidably mounted in said flask, means for moving said die outwardly for ejecting soap from said flask, a soap receiving element mounted for swinging movement in said frame and including an opening adapted to be disposed in front of the flask opening for receiving the soap when ejected, and means for actuating said soap receiving element for moving the soap clear of the flask.

12. In a soap press, a frame, a mold flask rotatively supported in said frame, a die slidably mounted in said flask, means for moving said die radially outwardly relative to the axis of mounting of said mold flask for ejecting soap from said flask, a soap receiving element mounted for swinging movement in said frame and including an opening adapted to be disposed in front of the flask opening for receiving the soap when ejected, a spring actuated finger in said soap receiving element adapted to grip the soap laterally, and means for actuating said soap receiving element for moving the soap clear of the path of rotation of said flask.

13. In a soap press, a frame, a flask supported in said frame, a die slidably mounted in said flask, means for moving said die outwardly in said flask for ejecting soap from said flask, a soap receiving element mounted for swinging movement in said frame and including an opening adapted to be disposed in front of the flask opening for receiving the soap when ejected, a soap gripping device in said opening, and means for actuating said soap receiving element for moving the soap clear of the flask.

RUEL A. JONES. 

